Device to assist automatic vacuumization of filled bags

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY GATHERING THE OPEN END OF A FILM BAG ABOUT A VACUUM OR GAS FLUSHING NOZZLE OR LIKE MEANS OF A TYPE SUCH AS IS INSERTED INTO THE BAG TO EFFECT A CERTAIN ENVIRONMENT THEREIN. SUCH A DEVICE BASICALLY COMPRISES A STRAP AND A PAIR OF MOVABLE ARM MEMBERS. THE ARM MEMBERS MOVE TO TIGHTLY WRAP THE STRAP ABOUT THE NOZZLE WITH THE BAG BEING HELD FIRMLYY UNDEENEATH THE STRAP, AND THUS TIGHTLY AGAINST THE NOZZLE. THE ARM MEMBERS MAINTAIN THE STRAP SO POSITIONED UNTIL VACUMMIZATION AND/OR GAS FLUSHING IS COMPLETED AND THE BAG CLOSED SUCH AS BY CLIPPING, TRYING OR THE LIKE.

Nov. 23, 1971 O, TITCHENAL 3,621,636

DEVICE TO ASSIST AUTOMATIC VACUUMIZATION OF FILLED BAGS Filed June 25, 1970 INVENTOR. O/fuer R. 77/06 ena/ United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 53393 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for automatically gathering the open end of a film bag about a vacuum or gas flushing nozzle or like means of a type such as is inserted into the bag to effect a certain environment therein. Such a device basically comprises a strap and a pair of movable arm members. The arm members move to tightly wrap the strap about the nozzle with the bag being held firmly underneath the strap, and thus tightly against the nozzle. The arm members maintain the strap so positioned until vacuumization and/ or gas flushing is completed and the bag closed such as by clipping, tying or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention generally relates to a device for automatically gathering a film bag about a vacuum nozzle, gas flushing means or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to such a device basically comprising a strap, and movable arm members which tightly wrap the strap about the nozzle in such a manner that the open end of the bag is held firmly underneath the strap.

Discussion of the prior art Present practice is oftentimes to package turkey, ham, roasts and like various regularly or irregularly shaped objects in polymeric bags. Desirably, the bags are shrink fitted about the product and are closed such as by a metallic clip or like closure means. In addition, it is normal practice to vacuumize the bag prior to shrink fitting the same such that the product is stored in an essentially oxygen-free environment.

To date it has been diificult to properly and quickly draw the vacuum on the bag without extensive manual assistance. Customarily, for example, the bag is delivered to a vacuumizing station where an operator manually positions the open end of the bag over a vacuumizing nozzle. The operator then usually tightly seals the bag against the sides of the nozzle by hand pressure. =Hand pressure is maintained during vacuumization of the bag and also during a closure step which immediately follows vacuumization.

It would be desirable if such a vacuumizing operation could be automated to a greater degree. Therefore, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide the following:

A device for automatically gathering the open end of a bag tightly about a vacuumizing nozzle or like vacuumizing and/ or gas flushing means;

Such a device that can be operated with minimum requirement of the operators special attention and time.

A device of the type indicated wherein the same is of a low-cost construction and can be readily combined with present-day packaging systems with minimum, if any, changes required to adapt the system to incorporate such a device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly then, the present invention contemplates a lowcost but effective device for gathering the open end of a ice film bag tightly about a vacuumizing nozzle or like vacuumizing means. Such a device basically comprises first and second movable arm members which are located to one side of the nozzle. A strap, preferably of a resilient stretchable rubber composition, connects between the extremities of the first and second arm members, respectively; and upon rotational or pivotal movement of the arm members, the strap is wound about the nozzle with the film bag held firmly underneath the strap. The arm members remain in this position sufficiently long for vacuumization and a subsequent closure step, and then are moved in an opposite direction or to a rest position, thereby unwrapping the strap and freeing the material therebeneath.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein wheresoever possible like reference numerals designate corresponding materials and parts throughout the several views thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a device for automatically gathering and closing the open end of a film bag about a 'vacuumizing means, the device being constructed according to the principles of the present invention and being shown in the rest position;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device of FIG. 1 taken along reference line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but shows the device in an intermediate operating position;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 1 but shows the device as moved from the rest position to a position Where it has tightly gathered the bag about the vacuumizing means;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the device in the operating position as shown in FIG. 4 and is taken along reference line 5-5 thereof; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the device as shown in FIG. 2, and additionally shows an applicable gear train for automatically operating the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PERFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown schematically in FIGS. 1-2 a preferred embodiment of the film gathering device 10 of the present invention. Device 10 comprises first and second arms or members 12 and 14 pivotally or rotatably movable in bearing means 16 and 18, respectively, which in turn, are associated with rigid supports 20 and 22, respectively. Supports 20 and 22, in turn, are fixedly attached to side portions of a horizontally positioned vacuumizing means or nozzle 24, and are offset from each other a suitable distince X for purposes as will become more evident hereina ter.

Referring again to arms 12 and 114, the same comprise flat curvilinear portions 26 and 28 (see FIG. 2) residing in a plane generally perpendicular to nozzle 24. In addition, arms I2 and 14 include rod-like extensions 30 and 32, respectively, attached adjacent the outer extremities 34 and 36 of portions 26 and 28, and which extend normal thereto, and in spaced horizontal or parallel relationship with nozzle 24. A strap 38 composed preferably of a resilient material such as a rubber composition, it attached across the adjacent free ends 40 and 42. of extensions 30 and 32. In the rest position, strap 38 is desirably slack and is positioned to one side of nozzle 24, as is best shown in FIG. 2.

OPERATION Normally, device 10 and nozzle 24 will be operated in combination with a suitable table means denoted generally at 44, and which is desirably located slightly below nozzle 24. A bag 46 filled with a product rests horizontally on table means 44, and is positioned with its open end over nozzle 24, and with one wall or portion 48 thereof lightly placed against strap 38. Arms 12 and 14 are then operated by suitable driving means of a type, for example, to be described hereinafter; and are moved upwardly toward each other in an intermediate position, as is shown in FIG. 3, thereby bringing the end portions 50 and 52 of the strap upwardly on each side of nozzle 24. Sutficient continued motion of arms 12 and 14 to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, wraps strap 38 about nozzle 24 preferably at least one turn. The open end of the bag is thus gathered tightly between strap 38 and the side portions of nozzle 24, thereby sealing the bag 46 off from the surrounding atmosphere.

Nozzle means 24 customarily can include an inner hollow shaft member 54 movable axially within nozzle 24, and through which air is withdrawn from the bag, leaving a vacuum or a substantially vacuum environment therein. Internal shaft 54 is then usually retracted and relative movement, for example, caused between the nozzle and suitable clipping or tying apparatus (not shown). The bag closure is normally formed in an area immediately below end 60 of nozzle 24. Nozzle 24 and table means 44, when used in combination with such closure apparatus, can be made reciprocally movable toward and away from the apparatus for purposes of applying a closure clip or tying, and then retract to a rest position for repeating the vacuumizing cycle. Appropriate clipping apparatus, for example. can be of the type as is described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,879,512, 2,880,419, and 3,210,835. Tying or clipping of bag 46 is also normally accompanied by cutting off the top region of bag 46 along a line slightly above the position of the tied or clipped region of the bag.

In any event, after the closure step, arms 12 and 14 are reversely moved and thereby returned to the rest position, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The material underneath the clip is thereby released and is conventionally removed from around nozzle 24 by pneumatic means. Such pneumatic means, for example, can comprise a plurality of small ports 56 in nozzle 24 placed at a region underneath the material, and through which air is injected to remove or blow the material from the nozzle. Such ports desirably, in addition, operate reversely to apply suction to bag wall 62 to positively prevent the bag from accidentally slipping off nozzle 24 during movement of arms 12 and 14 from the position shown in FIG. 1, to the full turn position shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 illustrates a suitable gear train for automatically moving arm members 12 and 14. Such a gear train, for example, can comprise a drive gear 66 operated by motor means (not shown), and which in turn operates a gear 68 attached to arm member 12 at bearing means 16. Gear 68, in turn, operates a like gear 70 attached to arm 14 at bearing means 18. Gear 70 is, of course, of sulficient height to mesh with gear 68 through a reach of approximately the olfset distance X betw'een support and 22, and support 20 if necessary can be cut back in the region indicated at 72 so as not to interfere with gear 70. In any event, rotational counterclockwise movement of gear 66, moves gear 68 clockwise, and gear 70 counterclockwise. This, in turn, cooperatively moves arms 12 and 14 inwardly toward each other to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thereby wrapping strap 38 tightly about nozzle 24. Reverse rotational movement of gear 66 operates oppositely, thereby returning arms 12 and 14 to the rest position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A suitable drive means for operating gear 66, for example, can comprise a conventional step-down harmonic drive electric motor. Such a motor has the advantage of substantially zero play, and drives at a speed such that oftentimes its shaft can be directly connected with gear 66 without the need for additional step-down gears or the like.

Referring now to some of the specifics of the preferred embodiment, it may be noted from FIG. 4 that extensions 30 and 32 are of diflFerent dimensions A and B, respectively (see RIG. 4), and that curvilinear portion 26 of arm 12 is somewhat longer than curvilinear portion 28 of arm 14. In addition, as indicated hereinbefore, supports 16 and 18 are offset from each other a suitable distance X. Such construction of arm members 12 and 14 'permits the same to rotate past each other such that the combined motion of the arm members can be or exceeds 360 degrees, thereby wrapping strap 34 at least one turn about nozzle 24. It also may be noted that arm members 12 and 14 are of generally half-moon configuration, including recessed regions 74 and 76, respectively. 'I' his, of course, permits the arm members 12 and 14 to move to the position indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 without interfering with nozzle 24.

Strap 38, as indicated hereinbefore, preferably comprises a resilient material such as a rubber composition or like material as would readily take-up slack. Conceivably, however, strap 38 can comprise a less resilient material such as leather or a natural or synthetic fabric, for example.

:While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications canbe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, by the use of suction ports 56 in nozzle 24 to hold the bag against the nozzle without the same slipping off, device 10 can be operated vertically, if desired. Moreover, by having the arms pivot or rotate on one side of the nozzle, and by having the strap hang slack on opposite sides thereof, arm members 12 and 14 conceivably could be made substantially straight in configuration, and yet not interfere with nozzle 24. Moreover, for example, device 10 would be additionally applicable for gathering the ends of tubular material or the like, as opposed to bag stock, to assist closure of either or both ends thereof, accompanied by vacuumization or gas flushing, if desired.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. A device usable for gathering the film adjacent the open end of a bag tightly about a nozzle or like means positioned within said open end, said device comprising a strap member positioned to one side of said nozzle means and extending in a direction generally normal to the axis thereof, at least one arm member pivotally movable about a point generally in the vicinity of said nozzle means, and in a plane generally normal to said nozzle axis, a region of said arm member remote from said point being affixed to an end portion of said strap, means supporting the opposite end portion of said strap, and means for motivating relative movement between said supporting means and said arm member to tightly wrap said strap circumferentially about said nozzle means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said arm member includes an extension extending generally parallel said nozzle axis and in a direction toward the portion of said nozzle means adapted to be positioned within said bag, said strap being afiixed to said extension.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said strap member comprises resilient material.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a second arm member pivotally movable about a point generally in the vicinity of said nozzle 'means, and in a plane generally normal to said axis, a region or said second arm member remote from said point being affixed to said strap.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said second arm .member includes an extension positioned generally in spaced parallel relationship with said extension of said [first arm member, said strap being attached at its end portions to said extensions, respectively.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the extension of one said arm member moves inside the extension of the other.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said arm members pivot at points disposed generally on the same side of said nozzle as said strap when the latter is in the rest position, said motivating means pivotally moving said arm members clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, to circumferentially wrap said strap about said nozzle means.

8. The device of claim 4 including means to permit said arm members to move angularly a combined motion of at least 360 degrees.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said permitting means includes recessed regions concave to said nozzle means when said arms are in the rest position, and formed in a region of said arm members positioned generally adjacent to the nozzle means.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said permitting means comprises offsetting said arm members in the direction generally aligned with said nozzle axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1958 Paikens et a1. 53-79 3/1969 Ludwig et al. 5379 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

